And when she smiles at me—wide, proud, eyes shining—it hits deeper than any crowd ever could.
I grin, adrenaline surging as I jog toward the dugout, teammates slapping my back, helmets clattering, noise everywhere.
But beneath it all, there’s something else building inside me.
Resolve.
Tonight, I stop hiding.
Tonight, I tell Kamden the truth.
“Nice call, brother,” I say, slapping Kamden hard on the back as we jog toward the dugout.
“Killer pitch,” he replies, grinning like we didn’t just turn the entire stadium upside down.
I nod, grabbing a water bottle and twisting the cap off. My pulse is still racing, adrenaline burning hot through my veins.
“Come over tonight,” I say casually. “Celebrate with some food and drinks.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Hell yeah. Wouldn’t miss it.”
We watch the rest of the inning play out, our bats coming alive. Two quick runs. Final out. Win by two.
The stadium explodes again.
We do the rounds. Interviews, cameras shoved in my face, fans screaming my name. “Wild! Wild!” It’s loud. Powerful. Addictive.
But none of it hits like the sight of her.
Amelia stands near the railing, front row, smiling in a way that makes everything else fade out. She looks proud. Happy.
Like mine.
The guys start heading down the tunnel, but I don’t follow.
Instead, I veer toward the stands.
Her eyes widen the second she realizes what I’m doing.
I don’t care.
I climb the steps and stop right in front of her. She giggles, nervous, excited.
“What are you doing?” she whispers.
“I saw my girl,” I murmur, stepping closer. “And I couldn’t wait to taste her.”
I kiss her.
Not tentative. Not careful.
Possessive.
She melts into me instantly, her hands gripping my jersey, and I feel everything. The electricity, the heat, the way my body reacts without asking permission.
For a second, the world disappears.
Then—
